In 2013 I began sculpting intentional figures, rather than following the grain within the wood.  The first one was “Reclining Nude” in a large hickory log which had some external features that suggested an elbow, breasts, and knees.  The challenge was to use the underlying wood grain in a consistent way with the human form.  I was so satisfied with the result that I decided to practice sculpting human forms in microcrystalline wax as a precursor to sculpting in wood.  These wax models were very useful, and some of them are pictured on this page. 

However, several of the initial large scale replicas were not successful.

Unlike my abstract sculptures, where I could make initial chainsaw cuts in a way that reduced stress in the working piece, the figurative pieces needed bulk wood necessary to realistically represent the human form.  I was unlucky in my choice of insufficiently seasoned cherry logs in which to sculpt my early figures and they all cracked.

In order to reduce the chance of cracking I transitioned to elm instead of cherry and I sawed the logs lengthwise to remove the pith wood and the reduce the radial stress.  Instead of bulk logs I now had thick boards into which I carved deep relief sculptures, and shallower complete figures, like “Meditation”. 

Length: 5 feet 6 inches

Reclining Nude

Sculptures by JMikk